The Hadzabe
Who are they?
The Hadzabe are the last hunter-gatherer community in East Africa. Their practices have changed very little in over 10,000 years.
They do not engage in agriculture or domesticating livestock. Instead, each morning, the men head out with their handmade bows to catch animals and collect honey while the women and kids look for edible plants and items such as fruits, tubers, berries, figs and nuts.
The Hadzabe hold back from wearing modern clothes manufactured in factories, instead, they rely on animal skins for clothing.
What can you expect?
Your assigned tour guide will arrange a local guide who can speak the tribe’s language, Hadzane, and lead you to the bush to search for the tribe. Once you find them you are welcome to fully immerse yourself in the Hadzabe culture by following the men on their hunts or going along with the women to collect fruits. The hunting and gathering begins quite early in the morning so you will have to wake up at around 5 or 5:30 a.m.
Further, life in the wild has made the bushmen fit, and they are quick and nimble on their feet. They won’t stop for the tourists while they are following animal trails. So you will have to be quick to keep up with the men during the hunt. Once you get used to it however, things will begin to get easier and you might even be able to understand their hand and whistle signals. The men will also collect honey and larvae from the bee-hives in Baobab trees. They eat the salty tasting larvae along with honey.
If you find it difficult to keep up with the men on the hunt, you can choose to accompany the women as they gather fruit. They will show you the trees from which they collect berries and fruits. Tubers and tangy tasting baobab fruits are other items that they often collect.
Once the hunt is over, you can join the tribe around the campfire and get to know them with the help of guides. You may discuss hunting techniques, dance with the tribesmen, and learn to make bows, arrows, and jewellery with them. The Hadza might show you how to make arrows and give shooting lessons as well. You will notice that the language of the Hadzabe people is unique. It is one of the few languages that uses click sounds.
